SOLICITATION NOTICE
66 -- Automated Air Sampling Systems
- Notice Date
- 3/27/2003
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Mountain Administrative Support Center, 325 Broadway - MC3, Boulder, CO, 80305-3328
- ZIP Code
- 80305-3328
- Solicitation Number
- RA133003RP0016
- Point of Contact
- Susan Labovitz, Contract Specialist, Phone (303) 497-7943, Fax (303) 497-3163, - Brenda Summers, Contract Technician, Phone (303) 497-5588, Fax (303) 497-3163,
- E-Mail Address
-
susan.labovitz@noaa.gov, brenda.s.summers@noaa.gov
- Description
- The Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA/CMDL) in Boulder, Colorado requires air sampling equipment to build a global atmospheric observing system for the carbon cycle, with emphasis on North America. The basis of the observing system consists of frequently and very accurately measured concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and carbon monoxide (CO) near the surface, on very tall transmission towers, and on small airplanes. (A) Requirement: NOAA intends to issue an RFP for automated air sampling systems. The contractor will be required to perform the following two tasks: 1. Manufacture and/or procure parts for, and build, 76 sets of sub-assemblies for automated air sampling systems (12 flask system). 2. Assemble 72 sets of sub-assemblies into 72 fully functional automated air-sampling units. (The remaining 4 sets of sub-assemblies will be used by CMDL for spare parts). (B) Government Furnished Materials and Documents: The Government will provide potential contractors complete engineering drawings of the specialty parts and sub-assemblies, wiring diagrams, and specifications and layout for final assembly. (If your company would like a copy of these documents before the RFP is released, send a letter to Susan Labovitz at the Department of Commerce, NOAA, MASC, 325 Broadway - MC#3, Boulder, CO 80303-3328.) The Government will also provide a hard-shell case and a controller board for each unit. Certain parts, (motors and stopcocks) must be used for this procurement. A list of these specific parts including the company name and part number will be provided in the RFP. (C) Background: The vertically integrated concentration difference of a chemically stable gas downwind and upwind of a major source area of a trace gas reflects the total source strength of that gas between the measurement points. The atmospheric measurements need to be very accurate to meaningfully quantify the relatively small concentration differences. Many of the greenhouse gases have a large and very nearly constant background concentration because they build up in the atmosphere over many years. NOAA employs two methods, automated measurements with in-situ analyzers and discrete air samples. The latter are analyzed in NOAA's laboratory in Boulder. The demanding accuracy requirement sets severe limits on the measurement and sampling methods that can be employed. In the case of discrete samples (which applies to this procurement) NOAA has tested over the years a number of materials and valves for the air sample containers, different metals and metal surface treatments, plastics, and glass. The containers have to meet the specification that the concentration changes of the measured trace gases (carbon dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, hydrogen, sulfur hexafluoride, and various isotopic ratios) stay below prescribed limits during storage of up to four weeks. Thus far, only glass containers with glass piston valves fitted with Teflon O-rings have met all of the requirements. During the last ten years NOAA has developed an automated air sampling package consisting of a gas manifold, a controller, and 12 sampling flasks, packaged and shock-protected in a hard-shell suitcase. The package has been flown on aircraft, and is also suitable for use on ships or on fixed platforms such as tall towers. It can be shipped through standard channels such as the mail, UPS or Fedex. The chemical analysis of the flasks in NOAA's laboratory is automated as well; the individual flasks are not removed from the package. After connecting the package to the analytical system, the computer controlling the various measurement instruments communicates with the controller in the flask package with instructions to open and close specific flask valves so that the flasks are sequentially analyzed. (D) Testing of Assembled Units: See Attachment 1. (E) Period of Performance - The contract shall be complete within one year of execution. See note 26.
- Place of Performance
- Address: TBD
- Record
- SN00289211-W 20030329/030327213245 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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